Tape ruler



Patented Apr. 28, 1953 TAPE RULER John Joseph Evans, Union, N. Jassignor to Evans & Co. Inc., Newark, N. 3., a corporation of New JerseyApplication April 12, 1950, Serial No.-155,44=6

'6 Claims. 1. This invention relates to a steel tape ruler of that typeembodying a casing within which is wound a steel tape carrying measuringindicia.

. Rulers of the particular class are usually formed of thin steel tapeand are concave-convex in section to contribute strength thereto.Furthermore, the particular section contributes to the tape a naturaltendency to assume a straight rodlike form as it is withdrawn from thecasing within which it is wound. As a general rule, one

prior art has resorted to many devices for yield- -ingly holding thetape in a particular position. However, so far as I know, such deviceshavev not been successful, even though in many cases they havecontributed to an increase in the cost of the steel tape ruler assembly.

As a feature of my invention I contribute a ruler assembly of the classdescribed in which extremely simple means are relied upon to maintainthe steel tape in a state of equilibrium in any position to which it ismoved, the means I use for the particular purpose deepnding for theiraction on the inherent nature of the steel tape and its normal form andsection.

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of myinvention in order that the detailed description thereof that followsmay be better understood, and in order that my contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features ofmy invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form thesubject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based mayreadily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures forcarrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims to be granted me shall be of suflicientbreadth to prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled inthe art.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rulerassembly of my invention showing a small part of the ruler tapeoutwardly of the casing. Fig. 2 is a section taken 2 along lines 2-2 ofFig. 1, while Fig.3 is a section taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. lis a section taken along lines 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the casing of my ruleris designated generally by reference numeral Ill and is formed of twocasing halves H and 1'2 doweled for suitable assembly as indicated at l3in Fig. 4. A central abutment [4 extends upwardly in the casing half IIand is threaded for a holding screw [5 extending inwardly from thecasing half l2, it being the function of the screw 15 to maintain thetwo casing halves in doweled assembled relation.

The abutment I4 is slotted as at It for the inner end I? of a spring [8.The spring I8 is coiled about the axis of the abutment l4, and at itsouter end is secured to the end of a steel ruler tape R in aconventional manner as is well set forth in the prior art.

As earlier outlined, the ruler R is concave-convex in section and isguided for movement outwardly of the casing by a pair of opposed guidepins 20, as probably best illustrated in Figs. 2

, and 4, the m'outh'of the casing being itself designated byreference'letter M.

For stabilizing the ruler tape R in any position outwardly of the mouthM of the casing into which it may be moved, as for example the positionin Fig. 4, I utilize those parts of my invention now to be described indetail. Thus, as is best shown in Figs. 2 and l, each of the casinghalves II and I2 is formed with an integral lug 22 extending inwardly inthe general direction of the guide pins 20. Each lug 22 is adapted toreceive a thin bowed spring plate or disc 23 formed with an opening 24adapted to fit over the lug 22. Once a spring plate 23 is fitted over alug 22, the lug is staked as is best seen in Fig. 4, so as to maintainthe plate 23 securely assembled thereto. The convex side of each of thethin plates 23 faces in the direction of an edge of the ruler R, and therelationship of the parts is such that the convex surfaces will bearagainst the opposing edges of the ruler R with the pressure of thecontact being of sufficient magnitude to hold the ruler R outwardly ofthe casing 10 in any position to which it may be pulled or pushed.

The pressure exerted by the thin bowed disks or plates '23 is such,however, as to be readily overcome, and will not resist too greatly thesliding of the ruler R, once a particular sliding motion thereof isinitiated. Further, the action of the disks '23 is inherent therein,because of the shape of the said disks, and because of the naturalcross-sectional shape of the ruler R.

Thus, the disks, through their pressure against the ruler R, actuallytend to develop greater curvature in the ruler B so that the frictionalpressure between the ruler R and the disks is the cumulative result ofboth the natural resilience of the ruler R and the disks 23.

I new claim:

1. In, a combination of the. classdescribed, a casing formed of twomating halves, a, sheet metal ruler tape, means on one of said casinghalves about which said tape is coiled within said casing, said casinghaving a mouth through which the tape enters and leaves said casing asit windseand unwinds relatively to said. means about which it coils insaid casing, a yielding..disc and means integral with one of said casinghalves positioned at said mouth and to which said yielding disc issecured in yielding contact With'an' edge of-the said tape.

2. In a combination of the classdescribed, a asin a sh etmetaI nflertpe. means-in. sa

' casing .aboutwvhich said tap coil dwrt in sai easina id sma w s amouth; through which thetape enters 'anolxleaves said casing as'it windsa d unwi s el iv ly o aidmean a out which it c ils in sa d a a y eldinmember for n tasting each of the edges oi said tape,. andtrneenssecuring-one ofisaid yielding. members a each side. d m thin. yield ncontact with th edges of the said tape.

3: In a combination 0f'the class'dcscri'bech a casing having-si'cleflwalls, a sheet metal. ruler tape, means in said casingaboutwhich said tape is "coiled within said casing, J said casing havingaslotted'mouthextendingbetween said side, Walls I hwhi' f he tape"enters and leaves said rc i s s tW nds nd unwinds,relatively to said mns, a out which; it; coils; aid. casins... and

a thin p ey conv x metalplate. nositionedin jux aposed elat on to one:01. :said' side walls at o e nder saiidislottedm uthin yieldi g contactwith theedse m 45.111 a ombine cit-ans. ti n. of the class descri ed, a

".casinahavins opposed side Walls. iassheet. metal ruler tape, supportmeansinsaidjcesin extendin nd ay lding sp ev-member secured to said lugin yielding contact with'anxedgeiof the said tape.

5. In a combination of the class described, a casing having opposed sidewalls, a sheet metal ruler tape, support 'means in said casing extendinsbetween said walls about which said tape is coiled Within. said casing,said casing having an end Wall transverse to said side walls and formedwith a mouth through which the tape entersand 7 leaves said casing as itwinds and unwinds rela tively to said support means, and a thin springyconvex plate secured to each of said side walls with its convex side inyielding contact with an e g Of saidtape.

casing having-opposed sidewalls; a sheet metal ruler-tape, supportmeansin' said casing extending between said walls about which said' tapeis coiled within said casing, said casing having an end walltransverse-tosaid side-walls and formed with a mouth through which thetape entersand leaves said casing it winds and unwinds relativeiyto-saici support means; and a thin springy convex plate securedeach-0fsaid'side walls yielding contact with an edge ofsaid tape;

- JGHN JQSEPH EVANS.

in the file oft'his seam stares PATENTS.

